So now that spring weather is fast approaching, we all can look forward to the days where we awaken to the sunlight beaming through our shades, and the birds gleefully singing outside our window. But just a couple months before, we fell victim to the days where we were more tired than usual, moody, anxious, and binging on high-carb sweets. This is known as the “Winter Blues,” while a more serious form of this is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder.

A person with winter depression may have a very hard time getting out of bed, a person with SAD cannot get to work on time. With the winter blues, it is normal to gain 5 or 6 pounds, but with SAD, weight gain can be far worse than that. The cause of this is our body’s sensitivity to light. With the lack of sunlight in winter, our body’s circadian rhythm, or internal body clock, is disrupted. This lack of sunlight causes the brain to produce large doses of melatonin, which is a hormone that has been linked to depression.

When asked how to fix these problems, Verona High School students brainstormed creative, and effective ways to treat the disorder.

Senior Kate Stanisci agreed that getting out of bed during the winter months was a lot more difficult compared to the warmer months: “I have had trouble motivating myself to do work, chores, or workout during the winter.” I asked her what she could do to fix this problem and she said, “I could make myself a schedule of the things I have to do during the day, so I am more organized, less stressed, and more motivated to get things done.” According to researchers, eating “a healthy diet will boost your mood, give you more energy, and stop you from putting on weight during the winter.”

The dark and cold days brought about by Mother Nature each winter in a majority of the country is felt by an estimated one in four of us. This feeling of depression could start around October, and end by April when spring time rolls around. Not many people know about this disorder, so bringing about awareness can ease people’s worries. It is normal to feel this way, and people should not fret if they have the feelings of sluggishness and sadness. With spring time fast approaching, the warmer weather will boost our moods, and our ability to live out our daily lives.